I want to expand and put into practice what I’m already doing, which takes a huge toll on me both physically and financially. I have people supporting me, but these days I’m providing food, medicines and clothes, and we’re increasingly helping many families to pay their bills

THE PLAN IS TO SET UP A CENTRE WITH VOLUNTEERS TO RUN A KIND OF WAREHOUSE WHERE WE CAN RECEIVE AND PROVIDE SUPPORT, CREATING A NETWORK WITH CONTACTS INCLUDING PROFESSIONALS FROM CERTAIN TAX ASSISTANCE CENTRES (CAFs) AND PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO WOULD MAKE THEIR SERVICES AVAILABLE, DEDICATING SOME ORTIME ENTIRELY FREE OF CHARGE TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED BY ENROLLING THEM IN COURSES OR FINDING SUPPORT SERVICES, WHILE ALSO PAIRING THEM WITH A PROFESSIONAL WHO CAN GIVE THEM STRENGTH, MOTIVATE THEM AND, ABOVE ALL, LISTEN TO THEM

OBVIOUSLY, AT THE START, MANY PEOPLE NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT; THERE ARE FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN OR TEENAGERS WHERE PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE, OFTEN DUE TOTHEIR AGE OR BECAUSE OF DISCOURAGEMENT. ALL TOO OFTEN, OTHER PROBLEMS FOLLOW IN THE WAKE OF THESE TRAGEDIES; SEPARATION IS A COMMON OUTCOME, AND FROM THERE, A SPIRAL OF PROBLEMS BEGINS

OTHER CASES I HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERING MORE AND MORE OF LATELY INVOLVE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO GIVE UP ON SEEKING TREATMENT, OR FOR WHOM IT BECOMES DIFFICULT EVEN TO VISIT THEIR DOCTOR, GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR DO THE GROCERIES. THERE ARE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO SPEND THE LASTWEEKS OF EVERY SINGLE MONTH WITHOUT A SINGLE EURO AND FIND THEMSELVES HAVING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PAY A BILL OR STAY IN THE COLD BUT MANAGE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE MEAL A DAY, AND PERHAPS A FEW DAYS BEFORE THEIR PENSION IS PAID THEY CANNOT EVEN AFFORD THAT SINGLE MEAL A DAY, AND THESE ARE THE THINGS I TRY TO PREVENT FROM HAPPENING

BUT OUR HELP IS NOT JUST ABOUT GIVING MONEY, BUT ALSO ABOUT DEDICATING TIME – A LOT OF TIME – TO THESE PEOPLE. WE TRY TO FIND CHEAPER SUPPLIERS FOR THEIR UTILITIES. OFTEN THEY ARE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE ENTITLED TO MANY FORMS OF ASSISTANCE THAT THEY DO NOTAND HERE TOO OUR PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE A SOLUTION

ANOTHER PROJECT WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE IS PRECISELY THAT OF CONNECTING WITH ELDERLY PEOPLE, ASSISTING THEM WITH VARIOUS APPLICATIONS TO THE VARIOUS SOCIAL SECURITY INSTITUTIONS AND OTHERS, THEN FOREIGNERS OR OTHERS, such as members of families who have needed our help, and perhaps by providing them with jobs working with the elderly who may have received care support

HOWEVER, I AM CURRENTLY HELPING 7 FAMILIES ON A REGULAR AND RECURRING BASIS; FOR SOME, THAT IS, 4, IN ADDITION TO SMALL WEEKLY FINANCIAL AID, I ALSO TRY TO DO THE SHOPPING FOR BASIC ITEMS. THERE ARE ALSO CHILDREN HERE WHOHAVEN’T HAD A BIRTHDAY PARTY, AND I’VE TRIED TO DO WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE FOR MY OWN CHILDREN: THEY HAD FOOD, DRINKS, DECORATIONS, A CAKE AND EVEN SEVERAL PRESENTS.

HONESTLY, I’M STARTING TO FEEL THE WEIGHT OF IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LITTLE ONES ARE AROUND. I ALWAYS TRY TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN SO THAT THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE BURDENED BY LIFE WHEN THEY’RE STILL SO YOUNG, I look for help left, right and centre; I’m always on the go, partly because, as well as looking after others in need, I also have my own life with a family and two teenagers who have needs of their own. I often get help from them too, as well as from a few people who are always willingVOLUNTEERS

THE THING THAT HAS GIVEN ME THE MOST SATISFACTION HAS BEEN THE BIRTHDAY PARTIES FOR THESE CHILDREN

• I’d like to organise things a bit better

BY SETTING UP AN OFFICE WITH FILES FOR PEOPLE AND THEIR NEEDS

TO PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN TURN TO WITHOUT FEAR AND WHERE WE COMMIT TO FINDING SOLUTIONS

ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS, REGISTERED WITH A NETWORK OF CONTACTS AND SUPPORT FROM BOTH VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPLIERS

HAVING VOLUNTEERS AND NOT JUST THEM, BUT PERHAPS ALSO STAFF AVAILABLE TO ACCOMPANY THOSE IN NEED

GIVING HELP AND WARMTH TO THE MOST VULNERABLE

ESPECIALLY TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING, WHERE ANYTHING MORE IS NOT POSSIBLE

THOSE STRUGGLING TO GET BACK ON TRACK

TO ALL THOSE FOR WHOM WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM A SMALL BREATH OF RELIEF OR HELP THEM SLEEP MORE PEACEFULLY, OR PERHAPS BRING A SMILE TO THEIR FACES

~HELP THEM WITH THEIR GROCERIES

~HELP THEM WITH A BILL

~HELP THEM WITH A PIECE OF ADVICE

~HELP THEM BY LISTENING

~HELP THEM BY KEEPING THEM COMPANY

~HELP THEM WITH SOME PAPERWORK

~HELP THEM WITH STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

~HELP THEM BY PROVIDING TRANSPORT TO TAKE THOSE IN NEED TO APPOINTMENTS FOR VARIOUS REASONS

I CAN ONLY DO ALL THIS WITH REGULAR FINANCIAL SUPPORT

WITH DONATIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE INITIALLY TO REACH A SUM OF MONEY THAT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND A PREMISES, FIX IT UP AND FURNISH IT, SET UP A SMALL STOCK OF FOOD AND PRODUCTS, INCLUDING BOTH COSMETICS AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, ESTABLISH A REGULAR BUSINESS WITH ITS OWN BANK ACCOUNT, AND ALSO HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR AID

--- IMPORTANT ---

RIGHT NOW, THE THING THAT MATTERS MOST TO ME IS BEING ABLE TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO GIVE THESE FAMILIES A DECENT CHRISTMAS, ESPECIALLY BY PROVIDING A CHRISTMAS TREE, DECORATIONS, FOOD, ETC.

IN PARTICULAR FOR FOUR OF THEM WHERE THERE ARE CHILDREN, SOME OF WHOM ARE VERY YOUNG, I WOULD LIKE TO BUY PANETTONI, TORRONI AND SOME JUICE

AND, OF COURSE, TRY TO GET 9 PRESENTS FOR ALL OF THEM (the children)

THIS WOULD BE THE START OF REALISING ‘INSIEME’ (INSIEME IS THE NAME OF THE GROUP AND THE PROJECT)